Effects of 17α-dihydroequilenin on plasma lipid and lipoprotein, glucose, insulin concentrations, coronary artery vasomotor function, and reproductive organ and mammary gland proliferation in atherosclerotic mammals

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method of using 17α-dihydroequilenin and metabolic conjugates thereof to prevent and reduce atherogenesis in males and females without causing endometrial proliferation in females and without producing feminizing changes in males. 17α-dihydroequilenin was evaluated for its effects on plasma lipid and lipoprotein, glucose, insulin concentrations, coronary artery vasomotor function, and reproductive organ and mammary gland proliferation in atherosclerotic mammals. 17α-dihydroequilenin was found to prevent endothelium-dependent vasoconstriction in males (p&lt;0.05) and ovariectomized females (p&lt;0.08). 17α-dihydroequilenin treatment increased plasma apolipoprotein A-1 concentrations (p&lt;0.05) and lowered fasting insulin concentrations (p&lt;0.05) without changing fasting plasma glucose concentrations in males. 17α-dihydroequilenin had no other effects on plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in either males or females. Also, 17α-dihydroequilenin exhibited no trophic effects on the uterus, endometrium, or breast, and no effect on either prostatic or testicular weight. Thus, 17α-dihydroequilenin may prevent breast and prostatic hyperplasia and neoplasia, and has no feminizing effects on the male urogenital system or mammary gland.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.09/006,000, filed Jan. 12, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,337 whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/034,495filed Jan. 13, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of using 17α-dihydroequileninand metabolic conjugates thereof to reduce and prevent ischemic heartdisease in males and females without causing endometrial proliferationin females and without producing feminizing changes in males. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to the use of17α-dihydroequilenin in atherosclerotic mammals and to evaluate itseffects on plasma apolipoprotein, glucose, insulin concentrations,coronary artery vasomotor function, and reproductive organ and mammarygland proliferation.

Postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy has gained wide recognitionas a lifelong preventive regimen for the reduction of osteoporoticfracture and ischemic heart disease. Unfortunately, good scientificevidence has failed to persuade the majority of menopausal women thatthe benefits of long-term estrogen replacement therapy are worth theinconvenience or anxiety resulting from its side effects, especiallyvaginal bleeding and the putative increase in breast cancer risk.Additionally, most of the evidence of estrogenic effects in preventingischemic heart disease in the United States is from studies that usedunopposed conjugated equine estrogens. The current evidence is unclearas to whether the addition of progestins, necessary to preventiatrogenically induced endometrial carcinoma, may either partially orcompletely negate the cardioprotective effect of unopposed estrogens.Several of the inventors have described a component of Premarin®(Wyeth-Ayerst, Princeton, N.J.), 17α-dihydroequilenin (DHEN), thatcaused no uterine hypertrophy in ovariectomized rats compared withovariectomized controls and compared with a doubling of uterine weightin Premarin treated ovariectomized rats. [Washburn S A et al., Aconjugated equine estrogen with differential effects on uterine weightand plasma cholesterol the rat. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1993;169:251-6]. Itwas determined that DHEN caused a 70% reduction in total plasmacholesterol concentrations compared with ovariectomized controls andcompared with a 15% reduction of total plasma cholesterol inovariectomized rats treated with oral Premarin®.

Currently, there are no hormone replacement therapies that deliverestablished benefits to menopausal females and males such as theprevention and/or reduction of atherosclerotic heart disease withoutcausing endometrial proliferation or other side effects of the typepreviously mentioned. Thus, there remains a need for an alternativehormone replacement therapy for menopausal women and men without sideeffects or the need to take concomitant progestin therapy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method of using17α-dihydroequilenin (DHEN), a constituent of conjugated equineestrogens, to reduce and prevent atherogenesis by 1) preventingendothelium-dependent vasoconstriction in both males and menopausalfemales; 2) increasing apolipoprotein A-1; 3) improving insulinsensitivity (while decreasing plasma insulin concentrations withoutreducing glucose concentrations); 4) reducing LDL accumulation; and 5)reducing arterial peroxidation. Further, DHEN does not appear to haveany proliferation or trophic effects on the female macaque reproductiveor mammary organs, thus, making DHEN an attractive single-agent hormonereplacement therapy that may be used without the need for a concomitantprogestin. Additionally, DHEN does not appear to have any feminizingeffects on the male genitourinary system or mammary gland, making DHEN apotential treatment for men in the prevention of ischemic heart diseasewithout the feminizing side effects of the traditional estrogen regimenand may prevent prostate hyperplasia and neoplasia.

The present invention further provides a method of using DHEN for thetreatment of the above conditions and/or diseases by administering atherapeutically effective amount of DHEN or a mammalian metabolicconjugate thereof and an appropriate pharmaceutical carrier.

In preventing and/or reducing atherosclerosis, DHEN or a metabolicconjugate thereof is administered in therapeutically effective amountsto mammals with atherosclerosis or to those susceptible toatherosclerosis or conditions related thereto. Other groups of mammalsthat are susceptible to the risk of atherosclerosis will be apparent tothose skilled in the art.

The term "therapeutically effective amount" as used in the presentinvention is defined as the dose which provides effective treatment orprevention of the above described conditions and/or diseases to mammals,in particular humans.

The mammalian metabolic conjugates used in the present invention aresulfates and glucuronides of 17α-dihydroequilenin. 17α-dihydroequilenincan be used either in the form of a mono- or di-conjugate. It is furthercontemplated that any derivative of 17α-dihydroequilenin that forms17α-dihydroequilenin or conjugate thereof in vivo may be used intreating or preventing the conditions and/or diseases describedhereinabove.

In another aspect of the present invention, mammals susceptible toatherosclerotic heart disease include men and women.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the mammal susceptibleto atherosclerotic heart disease is a menopausal woman.

The route of administration for DHEN is selected from the groupconsisting of oral, intravenous, parental, transdermal, rectal,intravaginal, intranasal, and intrabronchial administration. However,oral dosing is the preferred route of administration.

The preceding and further objects of the present invention will beappreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of thedetailed description of the preferred embodiments which follow, suchdescription being merely illustrative of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the features and advantages have been stated, other will becomeapparent from the detailed description which follows, and from theaccompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 represents a time-line of the experiments for female monkeys(n=50); and

FIG. 2 represents a time-line of the experiments for male monkeys(n=33).

FIG. 3 represents the total plasma cholesterol in female rhesus monkeys.OVX, ovariectomized; CON, control.

FIG. 4 represents total plasma cholesterol in male rhesus monkeys. CON,control.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the present invention, atherosclerotic male andfemale rhesus monkeys were evaluated to assess the effect of DHEN onplasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, fasting plasma glucose andinsulin concentrations, coronary artery vasomotion, endometrialproliferation in the females and prostatic and testicular weight changesin the males. Doses of approximately 0.3 mg/kg/day for females andapproximately 1.25 mg/kg/day in the males were mixed into the moderatelyatherogenic diet. These doses were based on the results of an 8-weekdose-finding study in a separate group of rhesus monkeys to determine anappropriate dose of DHEN that would favorably affect plasma lipid andlipoprotein concentrations as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

50 adult female and 33 adult male rhesus macaques were randomized totreatment by lifetime dietary cholesterol exposure and ratio of totalplasma cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The femaletreatment groups were intact female controls (n=9), ovariectomizedcontrols (n=16), ovariectomized plus 0.3 mg/kg/day 17α-dihydroequilenin(n=17) and ovariectomized plus subcutaneous estradiol (n=7). The maletreatment groups were control (n=16) and 1.25 mg/kg/day17α-dihydroequilenin (n=17). Treatment lasted 5 weeks. Longitudinalassessments of plasma lipid and lipoprotein and glucose and insulinconcentrations were performed. Coronary artery vasomotor function wasassessed by quantitative coronary angiography 1 week after initiation oftreatment. Morphologic and immunohistochemical assessments ofproliferation index values of reproductive organs and mammary glandswere done at necropsy.

Based on the studies conducted, 17α-dihydroequilenin preventedendothelium-dependent vasoconstriction in males (p<0.05) andovariectomized females (p<0.08). 17α-dihydroequilenin treatmentincreased plasma apolipoprotein A-1 concentrations (p<0.05) and loweredfasting insulin concentrations (p<0.05) without changing fasting plasmaglucose concentrations in males. 17α-dihydroequilenin had no othereffects on plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in either malesor females. 17α-dihydroequilenin exhibited no trophic effects on theuterus, endometrium, or breast. Further, no effect on either prostaticor testicular weight was observed.

Based on the results of the present invention, 17α-dihydroequileninappears to represent a single-agent hormone therapy for reduction ofischemic heart disease risk for both menopausal women and men. It has noapparent trophic effects on reproductive organs or mammary glands offemale and male rhesus macaques.

1. Material and Methods

Studies conducted represent a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 50atherosclerotic female and 33 atherosclerotic male rhesus macaques thatwere part of a breeding colony at the Comparative Medicine ClinicalResearch Center of the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. The animals hadconsumed a moderately atherogenic diet for an average of 10 years, andcomplete records were kept regarding their dietary, experimental, andreproductive histories as members of the breeding colony. Theexperimental design is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Animals were randomized to treatment group by cholesterol days (amountof dietary cholesterol consumed during the animals' lifetime) and by thefasting total plasma cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL) ratio obtained after acclimatization to the control diet.

Males received about 1.25 mg/kg/day DHEN mixed into a moderatelyatherogenic diet (0.3 mg/cal cholesterol) or the diet alone (controls).The females were randomized to three groups: 1) intact control, 2)ovariectomized control, or 3) ovariectomized plus about 0.3 mg/kg/dayDHEN. All females were fed the same moderately atherogenic diet as themales. Approximately half way through the experiment a fourth treatmentgroup of female monkeys (n=7) was started because of their concern thatexperimental stress (single-cage housing, multiple phlebotomies,angiography, and arterial and venous catheter placements) might decreaseplasma estradiol concentrations and, thus, prevent the (intact control)group from serving as "positive" controls. The animals in the fourthgroup were similar in age, cholesterol days, and total plasmacholesterol/HDL ratio to the other females. The animals in this fourthgroup were ovariectomized, and subcutaneous implants containing17β-estradiol were placed 2 weeks after ovariectomy to coincide withinitiation of treatment in the DHEN groups (1 week before angiography).Treatment was for 5 weeks to avoid any changes in plaque size that mightconfound low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism studies [see Wagner JD et al., A non-feminizing conjugated equine estrogen decreases artenalLDL degradation and improves vascular reactivity in male rhesus monkeys[abstract]. Circulation 1995;92:1-627].

All procedures and treatments were approved by the Bowman Gray School ofMedicine Animal Care and Use Committee and complied with applicablestate and federal animal care guidelines.

Baseline samples were obtained 2 weeks after ovariectomy to measurefasting total plasma cholesterol and plasma HDL, triglyceride, glucose,and insulin concentrations. Two weeks after ovariectomy, treatment wasbegun. The estradiol group was anesthetized and underwent a briefprocedure for placement of two subcutaneous estradiol implants. After 1week of treatment, quantitative angiography was performed withintracoronary acetylcholine and nitroglycerine infusions. Plasma sampleswere taken to measure concentrations of 17β-estradiol, testosterone,androstenedione, dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and DHEN.

Two weeks after angiography plasma concentrations of total cholesterol,HDL, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A-1, B, and E, and fasting glucoseand insulin were determined. Plasma concentrations of estradiol,androstenedione, DHEAS, testosterone, and DHEN were also determined. Theanimals underwent LDL metabolism studies after the fifth week oftreatment and then necropsy. Standard measures of plaque extent in thecoronary and iliac arteries, thoracic and abdominal aortas, commoncarotid artery and carotid bifurcation, and basilar arteries weredetermined [Wagner J D et al., Estrogen and progesterone replacementtherapy reduces lipoprotein accumulation in the coronary arteries ofsurgically postmenopausal cynomolgus macaques. J Clin Invest1991;88:1995-2002]. Mammary and reproductive tissues were collected fromall animals as described below.

2. Analytic Methods

Plasma lipids and lipoproteins. Plasma concentrations of total plasmacholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, and glucose were determined with aCOBAS-FARA (Roche, Nutley, N.J.) autoanalyzer. LDL plus very-low-densitylipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were determined by subtractingHDL concentrations from total plasma cholesterol concentrations. Totalplasma cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, and LDL concentrations weredetermined at baseline, at 1 and 3 weeks after starting treatment, andat necropsy (5 weeks after starting treatment). Plasma insulinconcentrations were determined with a standard radioimmunoassay that hasbeen described in [Cefalu W T et al., The effects of hormone replacementtherapy on insulin sensitivity in surgically postmenopausal cynomolgusmonkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Am J Obstet Gynecol 1994;171:440-5].

Plasma aliquots for apolipoprotein quantitation were stored at -70° C.,and apolipoproteins were quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA). The ELISA for apolipoprotein A-1 used previouslypublished methods, and a similar protocol was used for assayingapolipoproteins B100 and E. The ELISA for apolipoproteins A-1, B, and Equantification is a 4-day noncompetitive sandwich assay that usesmonospecific immunopurified antibodies raised in goats. The secondaryantibody is crosslinked to horseradish peroxidase. Color produced in thepresence of the chromogen o-dianisidine and hydrogen peroxide isproportional to the apolipoprotein concentration in each sample. Thesecondary standard and plasma controls that were run in duplicate oneach microtiter plate were pooled plasma samples from cynomolgusmonkeys. Secondary standards were standardized against a primarystandard of purified apolipoprotein A-1, LDL-apolipoprotein B100. Forapoprotein quantification unknown plasma samples were diluted over therange of 1:125,000 to 1:1,000,000 for apolipoprotein A-1 and 1:1250 to1:10,000 for a polipoprotein B. A minimum of three different dilutionsof each unknown were assayed to check for nonparallelity of responsebetween unknowns and standards [see Wagner J D et al., Estrogen andprogesterone replacement therapy reduces lipoprotein accumulation in thecoronary arteries of surgically postmenopausal cynomolgus macaques. JClin Invest 1991;88:1995-2002].

Sex hormones. Plasma concentrations of androstenedione, estradiol,DHEAS, and testosterone were determined by ELISA (Diagnostic ProductsCorporation, Los Angeles) at the Endocrine Assay Laboratory of theYerkes Regional Primate Center, Atlanta, by using methods in accordancewith Goodman A L et al., Composite pattern of circulating LH, FSH,estradiol, and progesterone during the menstrual cycle in cynomolgusmonkeys. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1977;155:479-81 and Wilson M E et al,Effects of a natural versus artificial environment on the tempo ofmaturation in female rhesus monkeys. Endocrinology 1988; 123:2653-61].

Quantitative coronary angiography. Responses of proximal epicardialsections of the left circumflex coronary artery to dilute (10⁻⁶ mol/L)acetylcholine (endothelium-dependent dilation) and (10⁻⁶ mol/L)nitroglycerin (endothelium-independent dilation) was measured byquantitative coronary angiography [Williams J K et al., Effects ofhormone replacement therapy on reactivity of atherosclerotic coronaryarteries in cynomolgus monkeys. J Am Coll Cardiol 1994;24:1757-61].Percent change (compared maximal lumen diameter at end-diastole duringintracoronary infusion of 5% dextrose in water) was measured in theentire coronary artery section and separately in the proximal, middle,and distal segments of the coronary artery section. This was done todetermine whether there was an effect of treatment on certain parts ofthe epicardial coronary artery.

Reproductive and Mammary Gland Assessments

Tissue Collection.

Reproductive and mammary gland tissues were collected from all animalsat the end of the study (uterus, vagina, and mammary glands fromfemales; prostate, testicles, epididymis, and mammary glands frommales). Uterine, ovarian, prostatic, and testicular weights weremeasured. Tissues were then fixed in 4% buffered paraformaldehyde for 24hours and stored in 70% ethanol. Tissues were trimmed to 3 mm inthickness, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned at 5 um forimmunostaining [see Cline J M et al., Effects of hormone replacementtherapy on the mammary gland of surgically postmenopausal cynomolgusmacaques. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996;174:93-100].

Histopathologic Study.

Mammary gland slides were subjecuvely classified as atrophic,hyperplasia, or neither. The treatment group of each animal was obscuredduring the procedure to prevent observer bias. Hyperplasia, atypia,cystic lesions, and the presence of intraluminal protein orintraepithelial fat globules mimicking secretory activity were noted.Lesions were independently graded as none, mild, moderate, or severe[see Cline J M et al., Am J Obstet Gynecol, supra].

Morphometry and Stereologic Measurements.

Measurements were made with a Macintosh (Apple, Cupertino, Calif.)computer-based video image analysis system (Power Macintosh [Apple]7100, Hitachi [Hitachi, Lyndhurst, N.J.] VK-C370 video camera, Scion[Scion, Frederick, Md.] LG-3 frame-grabber, and public domain software[National Institutes of Health Image]) by use of methods disclosed inCline J M et al., Am J Obstet Gynecol, supra and Cline J M et al.,Divergent effects of hormone replacement in mammary and endometrialtissues of macaques labstract]. Menopause 1995;2:255].

Endometrial thickness was measured as greatest thickness perpendicularto the luminal surface, from histologic sections. Mammary glandthickness was measured similarly, perpendicular to the skin. Estimatesof the relative proportions of tissue components in the endometrium-andmammary gland were made by tracing epithelium and luminal area in threerandomly selected microscopic fields at a magnification of ×200 for theendometrium and ×40 for the mammary gland [Cline J M et al., Am J ObstetGynecol, supra]

Proliferation Assessments.

Staining procedures were done on fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. Thebasic staining procedure uses an avidin-biotin-peroxidase methodmodified for antigen retrieval from paraffin-embedded tissue. To assessproliferation, the Ki-67 MIB-I monoclonal antibody assay was used(Immunotech, Marseille, France) [see Cattoretti G et al., Monoclonalantibodies against recombinant parts of the Ki-67 antigen (MIB1 andMIB3) detect proliferating cells in microwave-processed formalin-fixedparaffin sections. J Pathol 1992;168:357-63].

Quantification of Immunohistochemical Staining.

Immunostained cells were quantified by cell counting in sections by anobserver blinded to treatments. In the uterus, epithelial and stromalcells in the basalis and functionalis were counted. Labeled cell nucleiwere identified ac unlabeled (O), or weakly (+), moderately (++), orintensely (+++) labeled. At least 100 cells per slide were counted atthree different sites for each combination of animal, tissue site, andstain type. Cells were counted with a grid-filtering technique to avoidbias in the selection of cells counted [see Lindholm J et al., Amorphometric filter improves the diagnostic value of morphometricanalyses of frozen histopathologic sections from mammary tumors. AnalCell Pathol 1992;4:443-9].

3. Statistical Methods.

Plasma lipid, lipoprotein, and sex hormone values and arterial plaqueextent were compared by group after baseline values were adjusted for,and they were analyzed by analysis of variance with the SAS statisticalpackage (Research Triangle Park, N.C.). Analysis of variance was used tocompare the vasomotor response of artery segments among groups. Datawere adjusted before variance analysis to account for multiple segmentsfrom each monkey. Analyses of the morphometry and immunohistochemistrywere performed with the Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correctionsfor multiple comparisons, Kruskal-Wallis test, χ² test, and Spearman'srank correlation test. For all other data reported, significance wasassumed at the p<0.05 level. Data are reported as the mean±SD.

4. Results

Clinical Events: Myocardial Ischemia.

There were five deaths during angiography, three in the ovariectomizedcontrol group and one each in the male control and male DHEN groups. Asixth monkey (ovariectomized DHEN group) was found dead the morningafter angiography, but had fully recovered from the procedure and wasclinically stable at least 6 hours after the angiography. Theangiographic protocol was adjusted as a result of the three deaths inthe ovariectomized control group. This included continuouselectrocardiographic monitoring during angiography and decreasing theinfusion of acetylcholine from the standard 2 minutes to the point ofischemia (defined as significant ST segment elevation). This changeprevented lethal arrhythmias. In addition, it was noted that both malesand females not treated with DHEN had intractable ischemia in spite ofnitroglycerin infusions after the acetylcholine infusion, whereas inanimals treated with DHEN changes resolved promptly during the 2-minutenitroglycerin infusion.

Plasma Lipid, Lipoprotein, Apolipoprotein, Glucose, and InsulinConcentrations.

There were no differences in total plasma cholesterol, HDL, andtriglyceride concentrations with treatment or between groups in eitherthe females or males. Apolipoproteins A, B, and E concentrations alsowere not different with treatment or between groups in the femalemonkeys. The males had similar concentrations of apolipoprotein B and,although not significant, apolipoprotein E concentrations tended to belower in the DHEN-treated males (p<0.08, as shown below in Table I).

                  TABLE I                                                         ______________________________________                                        Apolipoprotein A, B, and E concentrations                                     in male rhesus macaques*                                                      Group  Apolipoprotein A-1                                                                          Apoliprotein B                                                                            Apolipoprotein E                             ______________________________________                                        Control                                                                              171.6 (18.3)  159.6 (19.2)                                                                              7.8 (1.1)                                    DHEN   225.6 (18.9)†                                                                        120.6 (19.9)                                                                              5.2 (1.1)                                    ______________________________________                                         *Adjusted for baseline values.                                                †p < 0.05, compared with control group.                           

The males treated with DHEN did have a 31% increase in apolipoproteinA-1 concentrations compared with the control males (p<0.05, Table I).Fasting plasma glucose concentrations were not affected by any treatmentin either the males or the females; however, the DHEN-treated males hada 43% reduction in fasting insulin concentration compared with malecontrols (p<0.02, shown below in Table II).

                  TABLE II                                                        ______________________________________                                        Fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations of                          female and male rhesus macaques after 3 weeks of treatment.                   Group           Glucose (mmol/L)                                                                           Insulin (pmol/L)                                 ______________________________________                                        Females                                                                       Intact controls 66.8 (3.6)   59.0 (15.4)                                      Ovariectomized controls                                                                       63.9 (3.2)   63.0 (12.8)                                      Ovariectomized DHEN                                                                           63.8 (3.1)   58.8 (12.4)                                      Ovariectomized plus estradiol                                                                 58.3 (4.3)   43.8 (19.1)                                      Males                                                                         Control         67.2         97.5 (12.4)                                      DHEN            69.2          55.5 (12.0)*                                    ______________________________________                                         Amounts are mean ± SE.                                                     *p < 0.02, compared with male control group.                             

Sex Steroids.

Estradiol and DHEAS concentrations of the females were measured at 1week of treatment, as were total testosterone and DHEAS concentrationsof the males. Estradiol, testosterone, androstenedione, and DHEASconcentrations of all animals were measured after 4 weeks of treatment(see Table III below).

                                      TABLE III                                   __________________________________________________________________________    Plasma sex steroid concentrations (in picograms                               per milliliter) in female and male rhesus macaques                                   E.sub.2                                                                            E.sub.2                                                                            T    T    DHEAS                                                                              DHEAS                                                                              A.sub.4                                  Group  (Week 1)                                                                           (Week 2)                                                                           (Week 1)                                                                           (Week 4)                                                                           (Week 1)                                                                           (Week 4)                                                                           (Week 4)                                 __________________________________________________________________________    FEMALES                                                                              79.6 48.5 --   0.045                                                                              7.04 5.14 1.6.                                     Intact (12.0)*                                                                            (15.2)†                                                                          (.490)                                                                             (2.92)                                                                             (2.70)                                                                             (0.40)                                   controls                                                                      Ovariectomized                                                                       12.4 9.7  --   0.021                                                                              6.53 6.34 2.41                                     controls                                                                             (9.5)                                                                              (13.4)    (0.41)                                                                             (2.31)                                                                             (2.37)                                                                             (0.35)                                   Ovariectomized                                                                       61.6 46.6 --   0.03 9.82 11.02                                                                              2.36                                     DHEN   (9.8)*                                                                             (12.9)†                                                                          (0.41)                                                                             (2.38)                                                                             (2.29)                                                                             (0.34)                                   Ovariectomized                                                                       123.3                                                                              74.8 --   0.00 9.41 7.06 1.66                                     estradiol                                                                            (14.4)*                                                                            (18.2)‡                                                                      (0.58)                                                                             (3.49)                                                                             (3.23)                                                                             (0.48)                                   MALES  --   20.7 2.05 2.72 10.21                                                                              10.22                                                                              3.34                                     Control     (12.0)                                                                             (0.44)                                                                             (0.38)                                                                             (2.24)                                                                             (2.14)                                                                             (0.32)                                   DHEN   --   125.8                                                                              1.99 1.54 12.92                                                                              10.43                                                                              2.62                                                 (12.9)§                                                                       (1.54)                                                                             (0.40)|                                                                   (2.38)                                                                             (2.21)                                                                             (0.33)                                   __________________________________________________________________________     Amounts are mean ± SE.E.sub.2, Estradiol; T, testosterone; A.sub.4, an     androstenedione.                                                              *p < 0.001, compared with ovariectomized control group.                       †p < 0.05, compared with ovariectomized control group.                 ‡p < 0.01, compared with ovariectomized control group.             §p < 0.0001, compared with male control group.                           |p < 0.04, compared with male control group.                    

As expected, plasma estradiol concentrations were higher in both theintact control and ovariectomized estradiol groups compared with theovariectomized control females. However, the 4-week estradiolconcentrations were lower than those necessary to restoreendothelium-independent vasodilation in female macaques in a previousstudy [see Williams J K et al., Determinants of coronary arteryreactivity in premenopausal female cynomolgus monkeys with diet-inducedatherosclerosis. Circulation 1994;90:983-7. Plasma concentrations ofDHEN were 92.6±51.3 ng/ml in the females and 389.6±116.7 ng/ml in themales. The apparent increase in plasma estradiol concentrations in boththe DHEN-treated females and males may reflect the 0.03%cross-reactivity of the estradiol ELISA for dihydroequilenin (Pittaway DE. Unpublished observations).

Coronary Artery Vasomotor Function.

Changes in coronary artery diameter in response to intracoronaryinfusion of acetylcholine (10⁻⁶ mol/L) in whole arteries are shown inTable IV below. It should be noted that the number of animals in eachgroup is different from the beginning of the experiment as a result of aroll of angiogram tape being lost. Responses for proximal, middle, anddistal segments of each artery to both acetylcholine and nitroglycerinwere compared, but there were no differences in the response of theindividual segments compared with the entire artery.

                  TABLE IV                                                        ______________________________________                                        Percent change luminal diameter of the left circumflex                        coronary artery to 10.sup.-6 mol/L acetylcholine and                          nitroglycerin in male and female rhesus macaques.                                                           Change in                                                                             Change in                                                             baseline                                                                              baseline                                Group     ACh (No.)                                                                              NTG (No.)  ACh* (%)                                                                              NTG* (%)                                ______________________________________                                        FEMALES   5        4           3.1(4.0)†                                                                      2.7 (2.5)                              Intact                                                                        controls                                                                      Ovariecto-                                                                              9        8          -4.1(1.7)                                                                              0.7 (0.6)                              mized controls                                                                Ovariecto-                                                                              11       10         -1.3(1.1)‡                                                                  2.9 (1.3)                              mized DHEN                                                                    Ovariecto-                                                                              5        2          -7.8 (3.6)                                                                            -5.2 (1.2)                              mized plus                                                                    estradiol                                                                     MALES     12       12         -4.0 (1.2)                                                                             1.5 (0.8)                              Controls                                                                      DHEN      11       6          -0.9(0.8)§                                                                        3.5 (1.2)                              ______________________________________                                         Amounts are mean ± SEM. ACh, Acetylcholine; NTG, nitroglycerin.            *Baseline is maximum diameter at enddiastole during 5% dextrose in water      infusion.                                                                     †p < 0.05, compared with ovariectomized controls; p > 0.1, compare     with ovariectomized DHEN group.                                               ‡p < 0.08, compared with ovariectomized controls.                  §p < 0.05, compared with male controls.                             

Atherosclerosis Extent.

There were no differences in the extent of coronary arteryatherosclerosis between female treatment groups or between the two maletreatment groups. The males had significantly larger atheroscleroticplaques than the females, which had been intact and cycling before thisexperiment (p<0.05). This is consistent with data we have reportedpreviously regarding male and female differences in diet-inducedatherosclerosis in nonhuman primates [see Hamm T E et al., Effects ofgender and social behavior on the development of coronary arteryatherosclerosis in cynomolgus monkeys. Atherosclerosis 1983;221:48-57].

Reproductive Organ Weights.

DHEN treatment did not induce changes in uterine weight relative toovariectomized controls (DHEN, 1.93±1.19 gm; controls, 2.29±1.15 gm).Mean uterine weight was greatest in intact controls (5.70±2.70 gm), butestradiol treatment of ovariectomized animals resulted in increaseduterine weights (4.24±1.84 gm), which did not differ from that ofcycling animals. Both the intact control and the ovariectomizedestradiol groups had statistically greater uterine weights than eitherthe ovariectomized control or the ovariectomized DHEN groups (p<0.05).Prostatic and testicular weights were not affected by DHEN treatment.

Histopathologic Examination.

Atrophy of the uterus, vagina, cervix, and mammary glands was seen inall oovariectomized control animals. Reproductive tract morphologicfeatures in nonovariectomized females was variable and consistent with acycling state. In all estradiol treated monkeys, there was endometrialhyperplasia and stromal edema. Estradiol also induced vaginalkeratinization and squamous metaplasia of the endocervix in all animalsin the group. Ovariectomized DHEN-treated monkeys were histologicallyindistinguishable from control females at all tissue sites. Mammarygland development in estradiol-treated females exceeded that seen inovariectomized controls. Gynecomastia was not apparent in either theDHEN-treated male group or the ovariectomized estradiol group. Notreatment-associated prostatic or testicular changes were seen.

Morphometry.

Endometrial thickness in ovariectomized animals was increasedsignificantly by estradiol but not by DHEN. This increase in endometrialthickness was accompanied by an increase in the proportion of theendometrium occupied by glandular tissue, lumen, and stroma (p<0.05) inthe ovariectomized estradiol and intact control groups compared with theovariectomized DHEN-treated group in Table V below.

                                      TABLE V                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Endometrial morphometry in female rhesus macaques                                    Average                                                                              Greatest                                                        Group  thickness (mm)                                                                       thickness (mm)                                                                       Glands (%)                                                                          Lumen (%)                                                                           Epithelium (%)                               __________________________________________________________________________    Intact control                                                                       1.81 (0.23)                                                                          2.19(0.29)                                                                           31.4 (4.0)                                                                          7.6 (1.4)                                                                           13.8 (2.9)                                   Ovariectomized                                                                       0.55(0.18)*                                                                          0.72(0.23)*                                                                          12.7(3.3)*                                                                          3.2 (1.1)                                                                           9.6 (2.3)*                                   control                                                                              0.69(0.19)*                                                                          0.89(0.24)*                                                     Ovariectomized       12.9(3.4)*                                                                          2.6(1.2)*                                                                           10.3(2.4)*                                   DHEN   1.31 (0.25)                                                                          1.64(0.31)         20.6(3.2)                                    Ovariectomized       24.9 (4.5)                                                                          4.3 (1.5)                                          plus E.sub.2                                                                  __________________________________________________________________________     E.sub.2 Estradiol.                                                            *p < 0.05, compared with intact control and ovariectomized plus estradiol     groups                                                                   

In the mammary gland, total gland thickness was greatest in the intactcontrol animals, which differed significantly from ovariectomizedcontrols and DHEN-treated animals (p<0.05) but not fromestradiol-treated animals. Maximal lobular size and percentage of thegland occupied by epithelium were greatest in estradiol-treated animals;however, no groups differed statistically in these mammary morphometricparameters.

Immunohistochemistry.

Treatment-related differences in Ki-67 staining in the endometrialepithelium were significant (p=0.0048 for overall differences). Ki-67staining was maximal in the endometrial epithelium of animals givenestradiol (mean, 32% of cells), followed by intact controls (mean, 14%of cells). Estradiol-treated animals differed from ovariectomizedcontrols and DHEN-treated females (p<0.05) but not from intact controls.Intact cycling animals did not differ from any group. DHEN-treatedanimals (mean 5% of cells) did not differ from controls (mean, 4% ofcells) (see Table VI).

                  TABLE VI                                                        ______________________________________                                        Endometrial proliferation in female rhesus macaques                           Group            Cells staining with Ki-67 (%)                                ______________________________________                                        Intact control   14.9 (5.1)                                                   Ovariectomized control                                                                          4.2 (4.7)*                                                  Ovariectomized DHEN                                                                             5.4 (4.7)*                                                  Ovariectomized plus estradiol                                                                  32.3 (6.3)                                                   ______________________________________                                         Amounts are mean ± SE.                                                     *p < 0.05, compared with intact control and ovariectomized plus estradiol     groups; ovariectomized plus estradiol and intact control groups were not      different.                                                               

Based on the aforementioned studies, one week of DHEN treatmentprevented acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent vasoconstrictionin both the males and the ovariectomized females compared with controlmales and ovariectomized control females, respectively. It was notedthat arteries in the ovariectomized estradiol group constricted to bothacetylcholine and nitroglycerine. This was puzzling because plasmaestradiol concentrations were high enough to have preventedacetylcholine-induced vasoconstriction and vasoconstriction tonitroglycerin [Williams, J K et al, Circulation, supra]. These resultsmay have been due to the additional stress induced by the briefanesthesia required for subcutaneous insertion of the Silastic siliconerubber (Dow Corning, Midland, Mich.) rods containing estradiol.

DHEN treatment for 5 weeks at a dose of about 0.3 mg/kg/day had noapparent effect on plasma lipid, lipoprotein, or apolipoproteinconcentrations or fasting glucose and insulin concentrations inovariectomized female macaques. This is quite different from theprofound reduction of total plasma cholesterol concentrations weobserved at a similar dose in ovariectomized rats. Similarly, in malerhesus macaques treated with fourfold higher doses, DHEN had no effectson plasma total cholesterol, HDL, triglyceride, or apolipoprotein Bconcentrations, but did have a 31% increase in apolipoprotein A-1 (thepredominant apolipoprotein in HDL) and tended toward lowerapolipoprotein E concentrations. Fasting insulin concentrations were 43%lower in DHEN-treated males with no effect on fasting plasma glucoseconcentrations. The lack of lipid and lipoprotein effects with DHENtreatment may be due to fundamental differences in rodent and nonhumanprimate lipid and lipoprotein physiologic mechanisms. However, the doseof the drug and the very short treatment period also may havecontributed to the lack of an effect on plasma lipid and lipoproteinconcentrations.

Unlike estradiol, DHEN has no apparent proliferative or trophic effectson the mammary glands, uterus, or endometrium of ovariectomized femalemacaques. Similarly, in spite of a small decrease in plasma testosteroneconcentrations, there was no decrease in either prostatic or testicularweight in the males treated with DHEN.

The present studies demonstrated several interesting and potentiallyimportant effects of DHEN on the cardiovascular system of both male andovariectomized female rhesus macaques. Most of the effects were seen inmales, and the absence of similar effects in females may be due to thelower dose used in the females compared with the males. However, genderdifferences in the mechanisms of action of DHEN cannot be excluded.

DHEN preserved endothelium-dependent vasodilation in males and preventedthe coronary vasoconstriction associated with ovariectomy in females.Prevention of endothelium-dependent vasoconstriction in males was notobserved with short-term administration of estradiol to men, but hasbeen observed in men when given 20 minutes after administration of 1.25mg Premarin intravenously. [Collins P et al., 17β-Estradiol attenuatesacetylcholine-induced coronary arterial constriction in women but notmen with coronary heart disease. Circulation 1995;92:24-30; and Reis S Eet al., Estrogen has an acute beneficial effect on coronaryvasoreactivity in man [abstract]. Circulation 1995;92:1-249.]Preservation of endothelium-dependent vasodilation in males may be aunique property of DHEN and conjugated equine estrogens.

Additionally, it is unclear whether DHEN may be a more potentvasodilator in females than estradiol because the ovariectomized monkeystreated with subcutaneous estradiol had a slightly different treatmentthan ovariectomized females treated with oral DHEN. Prevention ofendothelium-dependent vasoconstriction may reduce shear forces onplaques, which lead to plaque rupture and arterial thrombosis andconsequent myocardial ischemia and infarction.

The increase in apolipoprotein A-1 concentrations in the males mayresult in an increase in cholesterol transfer from LDL to HDL, thus,decreasing the amount of cholesterol available for plaque formation. Thedecrease in plasma insulin concentrations that did not affect fastingplasma glucose concentrations implies that insulin sensitivity wasincreased with DHEN treatment. [see Cefalu W T et al., supra]. Thereduction in insulin concentrations may also reduce the atherogeniceffects of hyperinsulinemia.

DHEN has been shown to reduce arterial LDL accumulation in males, buthad no effect in females [Wagner J D et al, supra]. This dose in femalesmay have been inadequate to achieve this effect. DHEN also reducesarterial peroxidation in ovariectomized females, and there was a trendtoward reduction of arterial peroxidation in the males (unpublisheddata). These data are consistent with previously published data on theantioxidant properties of the ring B unsaturated conjugated equineestrogens [Subbiah M T R et al., Antioxidant potential of specificestrogens on lipid peroxidation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1993;77:1095-7; and Wilcox J G et al., The biological effects of individualestrogen components in conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) and theirpossible modulation of insulin resistance and oxidation of LDL[abstract]. J Soc Gynecol Invest 1995;2:153].

It is unclear why the higher dose in the males was less effective inpreventing arterial peroxidation than the lower dose used in theovariectomized females, but this may have been caused by peroxidanteffects of circulating testosterone and less efficient concentration ofDHEN in tissues resulting from gender differences in estradiol receptordensity. Both the reduction of arterial LDL accumulation and arterialperoxidation products may decrease atherogenesis.

In view of the foregoing, DHEN holds promise as an intervention forreducing atherogenesis by (1) preventing endothelium-dependentvasoconstriction in both males and ovariectomized females, (2)increasing apolipoprotein A-1 and decreasing apolipoprotein Econcentrations, (3) decreasing plasma insulin concentrations, (4)reducing LDL accumulation, and (5) reducing arterial peroxidation. DHENmay also have important effects on clotting function and prostaglandin,cytokine, and growth factor production and function that are as yetunexplored.

In the present invention, DHEN did not appear to have any proliferativeor trophic effects on female macaque reproductive or mammary organs.Therefore it is possible that, if used in hormone replacement therapyregimens, a concomitant progestin for prevention of endometrialcarcinoma could be eradicated. DHEN would not be expected to inducemastalgia or mammary proliferation. These properties might lead toincreases in acceptance and long-term adherence to hormone replacementtherapy regimens by postmenopausal women. Additionally, DHEN does notappear to have any adverse effect on the male genitourinary system.Thus, DHEN may be a useful treatment for men in prevention of ischemicheart disease.

Finally, in these studies, the anti-atherogenic properties of DHEN andits lack of trophic reproductive organ and mammary effects were presumedfrom promising intermediate markers after an extremely short treatmentperiod. All these end points should be tested in appropriately designedlong-term trials.

DOSAGE REQUIREMENTS

When DHEN is used in accordance with the present invention, it can beformulated into normal dosage forms such as capsules, tablets, powders,suspensions, emulsions, solutions, syrups, aerosols, soft and hardgelatin capsules, suppositories, injectable solutions and the like. DHENcan be administered by itself or in combination with pharmaceuticallyacceptable carriers, diluents, stabilizers, solubilizers, lubricants,binders and the like or excipients thereof. Regardless of thepharmaceutical formulation, 17α-dihydroequilenin will be found in aproportion that will impart the desired activity to the mammal.

Oral dosing of DHEN is the preferred form of administration. However,other routes of administration are contemplated. For example, DHEN maybe injected parenterally, in which case it is administered in the formof a sterile solution containing other components such as glucose orsaline. It is further contemplated that DHEN may be administeredtransdermally with the use of a transdermal patch containing the activeingredient, DHEN and a pharmaceutical carrier. The transdermal patchallows the delivery of DHEN to the skin for systemic absorption into theblood stream. The dosage requirements for DHEN for administration topatients will be based upon dosage requirements to achieveatherosclerotic benefits without endometrial proliferation in menopausalfemales or feminizing effects in males.

Based on the aforementioned animal studies, the approximate dosagerequirements for humans are expected to approximate those of themetabolic equivalents for rhesus monkeys. It is believed thatmetabolically equivalent doses in men and women to those tested inmacaques will achieve similar beneficial effects without any adverseeffects on the uterus, breast, prostate and testes. Of course, precisedosages for any form of administration to the patient will be determinedby more comprehensive dose-finding studies and by the administeringphysician based on his or her experience with the patient being treated.

Generally, 17α-dihydroequilenin should be administered at aconcentration that will achieve the desired result without causing anyharmful or deleterious side effects. While it is contemplated that17α-dihydroequilenin has demonstrated potential as a single-agenttherapeutic regimen, it is contemplated that this compound may becombined with another hormonal compound to enhance the overallbeneficial effects of 17α-dihydroequilenin.

DOSE-FINDING STUDIES

Table VII illustrates the composition of Premarin® and the relativepotencies of the various component conjugates as a function ofcornification of the vaginal epithelium of ovariectomized rats(Allen-Doisy test) [Lyman G W et al., Assay for conjugated estrogens intables using fused-silica capillary gas chromatography. J Chromatogr1982;234:234-9; and Stern M. Pharmacology of conjugated oestrogens.Maturitas 1982;4:33-9].

                  TABLE VII                                                       ______________________________________                                        Components of Premarin (all estrogens are sulfate salts)                                                  Relative                                          Compound        Component (%)                                                                             Potency                                           ______________________________________                                        Estrone         49.1        0.30                                              Equilin         22.8        0.42                                              17α-Dihydroequilin                                                                      13.5        0.0006                                            Δ-8,9-Dehydroestrone                                                                    3.9         Not tested                                        17α-Estradiol                                                                           3.7         0.0011                                            Equilenin       2.8         0.013                                             DHEN            1.6          0.00018                                          17β-Dihydroequilin                                                                       1.5         0.83                                              17β-Dihydroequilenin                                                                     0.7         0.0021                                            17β-Estradiol                                                                            0.56        1.0                                               Premarin        Whole       0.38                                                              preparation                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The preliminary dose-finding study that preceded the larger studydetailed in the present invention was a randomized placebo-controlledstudy with two groups of ovariectomized females (n=5 per group) and fourgroups of males (n=5 per group). The study was begun after a period ofacclimatization to a moderately atherogenic diet containingapproximately 0.3 mg cholesterol/cal. Plasma concentrations of totalcholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides were determined at 2, 4, and 8 weeksafter initiating treatment. Animals were randomized to treatment bylifetime exposure to dietary cholesterol and by baseline total plasmacholesterol/HDL ratio. The dose used in the females was 0.312 mg/kg/day,which was metabolically equivalent to the middle dose in our rat study.[Washburn S A et al., supra.] No other doses in the females wereexplored because we wanted to determine the effect of DHEN inovariectomized female rhesus macaques at a metabolically equivalent doseto the one used in the ovariectomized rats. The males did undergo anabbreviated dose-ranging study. The doses for the males were 0.312mg/kg/day (identical to the female dose), 0.625 mg/kg/day, and 1.25mg/kg/day.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, there were no statistical differencesamong groups for any dose in either the females or the males comparedwith the controls. However, it was hoped that the trends in the lipidand lipoprotein concentrations might predict significant effects inother cardiovascular assessments, especially coronary vasomotion and LDLaccumulation or degradation.

All references referred to herein are hereby incorporated by referencein their entirety.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention andwithout diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intendedthat such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A method of preventing vasoconstriction in a mammal,comprising administering a therapeutic effective amount of17α-dihydroequilenin or a mammalian metabolic conjugate thereof to amammal in need of such treatment.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the administered compound is 17α-dihydroequilenin sulfate. 3.The method according to claim 1, wherein the route of administration for17α-dihydroequilenin is selected from the group consisting of oral,intravenous, parental, transdermal, rectal, intravaginal, intranasal,and intrabronchial administration.
 4. The method according to claim 1,wherein the mammal is a male or female.
 5. A method of increasingapolipoprotein A-1 in a mammal, comprising administering atherapeutically effective amount of 17α-dihydroequilenin or a mammalianmetabolic conjugate thereof to a mammal in need of such treatment. 6.The method according to claim 5, wherein the administered compound is17α-dihydroequilenin sulfate.
 7. The method according to claim 5,wherein the route of administration for 17α-dihydroequilenin is selectedfrom the group consisting of oral, intravenous, parental, transdermal,rectal, intravaginal, intranasal, and intrabronchial administration. 8.The method according to claim 5, wherein the mammal is a male or female.